Tribolonychus Zhang & Martin

Tribolonychus Zhang & Martin

Type species: Tribolonychus collyerae Zhang & Martin 2001: 321

Diagnosis. Three pairs of prodorsal setae, nine pairs of dorsal opisthosomal setae, seta f2 absent, setae h1–3 present; empodia lacking basal stalk, split into three separate prongs (trifid), i.e. two lateral prongs, one smaller dorsomedial prong; tenent hairs elongate, fine. Insertion of posterior dorsal opisthosomal setae h2 posterior to insertion of setae h1 ( h2 inserted in commonly observed position). Female with spinneret (suζ) longer than broad.

Remarks. Based on the importance of pretarsal morphology to the systematics of the Tetranychidae , this monospecific genus was erected to accommodate T. collyerae , for its unusual empodium which is split into three separate claw-like projections.